Relocating
Moving to Melbourne is a dream come true for many expatriates, especially those from the UK, Ireland, China, India, Italy, and Germany. More than 90,000 people moved to the city last year, joining the 58 percent of Melburnians with at least one parent born abroad.
Melbourne is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities. Recently, the population has grown by nearly 50% – and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. With an estimated 1.5 million people living in Melbourne today, the influx of new residents means finding accommodation can prove challenging. However, if you decide to move, you should consider these five things before moving to Melbourne.
Here are things to know before moving to Melbourne.
Moving internationally has its advantages and disadvantages. Here we look at some of the specifics of moving to Melbourne.
Pros
Melbourne has an excellent educational infrastructure. It accepts international students from any country. Your children can attend one of Melbourne’s public primary and secondary institutions regardless of their visa status.
With world-class healthcare at its doorstep, Melbourne has no shortage of doctors and specialists. So if you’re relocating to Melbourne, feel free to find medical care.
A warm greeting. Australians are known for their friendliness and openness, and Melburnians are no different. They’re not just welcoming to locals; they’re also receiving visitors from overseas. There’s a thriving expatriate community here, too, and Melbourne is one of the most diverse cities in Australia.
Cons
If you ship your things, they may take longer to get there than you expect. Melbourne is located at the southern end of Australia, making it relatively isolated from other major cities and countries. Make sure you plan to send your things by mail.
There are strict regulations regarding pets entering Australia. For example, every animal arriving in Melbourne has to be quarantined for ten days before they’re allowed to enter the country.
Increased wages in the city mean that your costs should be covered. However, unless you have a well-paid job, you will find that savings are difficult. You may have to spend less time at bars and restaurants and more at home.
Expatriates who speak English will feel comfortable moving to Melbourne and integrating into Melburnian society. You can meet people quickly, learn about the local history and cultural background quickly, and participate in all the activities that give Melbourne such an excellent reputation. A job and a place to live should be relatively straightforward, too. Business is often done in English, and many streets are marked in English and simplified Chinese Characters. Likewise, it is not difficult to relocate to Melbourne if you are an English-speaking native of China or Hong Kong. A large Chinese population lives in the city, and most road signs are written in Chinese and English.
Moving to Melbourne: Tips and advice for moving to Melbourne
You’re making a big decision when you decide to move abroad. Make sure you feel ready for your move by checking out our tips and advice for relocating to Melbourne, or contact one of our relocation consultants if you’d like to arrange a free consultation to discuss your move in greater depth.
Do You Need a car?
A comprehensive public transport system makes it likely that you won’t require a vehicle to travel in Melbourne. However, if you’re planning to move to Melbourne with a young family, then having a private car may become essential for commuting purposes. Read our driving in Australia guide for more details.
Can you easily find a school?
Any children there can attend the public schooling system if they live in Australia. It’s excellent news for expatriates: Australia has one of the best educational systems outside Asia, and tuition is usually less than $300 per academic term. Most public primary and secondary (high) schooling institutions require proof of residence, proof of age, and proof of current grade level.
There are also many famous private and international schools in Australia. They usually charge high tuition fees (over 6,500 AUD/5,300 USD per year), but they’re worth it if you want to study abroad. Read our Education in Australia guide for more info.
Can You Bring Pets?
If your dog isn’t on a banned breed list, you’ll be able to take them with you when you move to Melbourne. Check out our Moving with Pets to Melbourne guide to learn about the entire importing procedure.
When your pets arrive in Melbourne, you should know that they must be chipped and registered with a nearby council. You should also keep them on a leashed walk if you’re walking them in public, including playground and barbecue sites, and you should always pick up after them. There are eight park locations where dogs can go off-leashes, so check out their websites for maps.
Visas and Work Permits
There are different types of visas and work permissions available for people who want to live in Melbourne. Still, if you’re planning to stay here permanently, you’ll require an Australian skilled worker (Skilled Independent Migration Program) or employer nomination scheme (Employer Nominated Scheme) type of permit.
You need to meet specific requirements to be eligible for either of these two types of visas.
You need to be employed in one of the jobs listed on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for your visa application to succeed.
You must be younger than 45 years old.
Pass a health check.
You must satisfy the Australian points system before you can claim any rewards.
Be able to understand and speak fluent English.
You can learn more about the health checks, points system, and how to obtain a visa by visiting our VisAs & WorkPermitsAustralia guide.
Requirements and Documents
If you’re moving to Australia on a standard Australian visitor’s permit, you don’t need additional documents. But if you ever want to stay longer than three months, you can get a temporary resident’s permit through the Victorian state government. This could help you obtain permanent residency status.
To qualify, you should meet all of the requirements for the Australian visa you’re seeking. You should also meet the criteria set out by the Victorian government to nominate yourself. This could be for either a business visa or a skilled worker visa. Finally, you should permanently commit to settling in Melbourne (or the rest of Victoria). Find out more about the process at the official Victoria Government site.
Living
Living in Melbourne is an exciting experience. You can enjoy the best of both worlds – the laid-back lifestyle of Australia’s southern capital and the cosmopolitan culture of one of the world’s leading cities. Whether you are planning to move to Melbourne permanently or just visiting, we have compiled a list of things you should consider before moving to the city.
You can also learn important things to remember during the first few weeks, such as tax file numbers (TFNs) and Medicare. For example, did you know that you need a TFN to work? And that you need to open a checking account? These small details are easy to overlook when settling into a new place for the first time.
If you’re planning to move to Melbourne, we’ve covered you! Our guide covers everything from finding an apartment to getting around town. You’ll learn about the best neighborhoods to live in, including Fitzroy, St Kilda, South Yarra, and Brighton. Find out where to get the cheapest rents and how much they can vary depending on location. And if you’re thinking of buying a house, check out the pros and cons of living in each suburb.
Working
Melbourne is a relatively inexpensive workplace, and most people who move here find jobs quickly. However, if you’re considering moving to Australia or already have a job here and want to know what else you can do to make yourself stand out, this section covers everything you need to know. It includes advice on how to network effectively and where to look for recent openings.
These are just Awesome Reasons to Live in Melbourne!
Residing in Melbourne
The Yarra River separates Melbourne into its north and south, igniting a debate that never fails to polarize: the age-old cliché of the north-south rivalry. So let’s learn more about them to determine which side will suit you better.
Beer gardens, terrace homes, artistic haven hideaways, and laneways galore can be found on Melbourne’s Northside, a hotspot for politics, music, creativity, and the arts. The Northside might be for you if you enjoy underground music, nature, terrace homes, and unique heritage structures. Some of Melbourne’s well-liked northern suburbs include North Melbourne, Fitzroy, Carlton, Collingwood, Abbotsford, Thornbury, Brunswick, and Coburg.
Contrarily, the Southside of Melbourne offers a sea breeze and upscale living, where celebrities are frequently spotted among the many designer shops and shopping options (special mention goes to Chapel Street), as well as a variety of brunch options and bottomless wine options. So the southside might be for you if you like having a lot of options, being accessible, being close to football players, and getting a steady cool bay breeze. The wealthy southern suburbs of Melbourne include St. Kilda, Port Melbourne, Toorak, South Melbourne, Prahran, Windsor, and South Yarra.
It could be a more precise cut, though. No matter which side of the river you are on, a Melbourne suburb suits every lifestyle. Visit Realestate’s Melbourne’s Top 50 Most Liveable Suburbs Revealed for a more comprehensive view of the liveability of various suburbs. You can get acquainted with highly ranked areas like East Melbourne, Fitzroy North, Elwood, Footscray, Melbourne, Hawthorn, Windsor, Richmond, Kensington, Northcote, Southbank, Flemington, and Prahran.
A melting pot of various cultures.
Melbourne is a natural, multiethnic city. Around 66 percent of Melburnians were born abroad, come from 200 different countries, speak 233 different languages, and belong to 116 other community groups. A significant portion of Melbourne’s population is British, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, and Greek, which accounts for the city’s wide variety of cuisines and cultural festivals and events.
Did you know that Melbourne has the tenth-largest immigrant population of the world’s major cities, with Sydney taking the ninth spot? As a result, you will find an unparalleled “foodie culture” in Melbourne that will leave a lasting impression due to considerable immigrant populations influencing the city’s food and coffee scene.
Discover some of Melbourne’s favorite dining destinations, such as.
- Little Italy—Lygon Street, Southern End, and Carlton
- Sydney Rd, Coburg/Brunswick (Little Lebanon): Lebanese and Turkish.
- Little India in Dandenong, on Robinson, Walker, and Foster Streets.
- Abbotsford/Richmond’s Little Saigon has Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants on Victoria Street.
- Chinatown is located in Melbourne at the east end of Little Bourke Street.
- Greek – Londsdale Street, Top End, downtown Melbourne.
- Koornang Road in Carnegie is Korean.
- Spanish
- Diverse Mixed Cuisine: Dandenong, St. Kilda, Ormond, Brunswick, Melbourne Central Business District.
Melbourne also has a diverse religious population, and Victoria and Melbourne both host numerous religious, ethnic, and multicultural festivals and events.
Because of this, rest assured that wherever you are from, Melbourne will be a place where you can easily fit in and become a part of the community. Melbourne welcomes everyone, which is what I find most beautiful about it.
The center of Australia’s cultural life.
The eccentricity, inventiveness, and appreciation of the arts are well-known in Melbourne. Its arts and entertainment scene, fashion, events, and professional street graffiti can all be considered a melting pot of creativity. The Melbourne cultural scene is as vibrant and alive as ever, encompassing everything from live music to street performers to theater performances and comedy clubs to fashion shows.
The National Gallery of Victoria, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image are all perfect places to visit if you want to learn about Melbourne’s culture. If you’re going to become more cultured, moving to Melbourne will give you access to these institutions. Additionally, numerous underground art events take place in the city, such as zine fairs (look for the Festival of the Photocopier), artist collectives (the Fitzroy Art Collective deserves special mention), and more.